There is no question the reality that at some point you will probably need to have the Incontinence talk with your parent, and the dose of reality they will experience is not easy for anyone to think about, much less talk about.
Honestly it is not an article we look forward to publishing on Senior Living Plans. We realized it is an important subject, part of the ageing process and we felt our readers would receive value from proper, reliable information. So no it is no an easy topic.
However. if you are blessed with a long life this is something all of us will have to deal with, and hopefully straight one. The human life cycle is a true circle – it goes round and begins where it started, initially.
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In the beginning of our life our parents take care of us, and at the end of their life, we take care of them.
This means that, at a certain point, a Senior Citizen or an elderly relative will start behaving exactly like a baby – if blessed with long life enough.
I wish there was an easier way to express this, but with many things as we grow older, it just simply is what it is.
While such an impressive long life is surely a blessing many wish for, it also comes with some challenges that may not be very easy to handle and frankly outrightly embarrassing if not handled well. One of such challenges is body wastes management – especially feces and urine.
This is the number one reason why you would need an adult diaper and get a basic understanding of types & the best adult diapers. In this article we will share with you more than any of us would ever care to know. But hopefully it will answer the questions you have, and help develop a plan. At some point we all need reliable information on the subject either for yourself as a Senior Citizen or a relative who has been so blessed with enviable long life.
You could also be looking for the best adult diaper if you’re a caregiver – and an elderly patient needs their services.
However, good old age aside, there is also another instance that shopping In this situation, opting for an incontinence brief makes perfect
sense for both the medically challenged elderly person and the care giver: both
are more relaxed and during the night, both can enjoy their sleep
uninterrupted. Of course, a last instance exist where the use of an adult diaper
makes perfect sense and you’ll naturally need to find the best adult diapers
you can either online or offline if you or someone you care for is living with
a permanent (or temporarily) physical challenges. The truth is, with the right attitude adjustment, and yes it is an
adjustment, but never the less with the right incontinence pants he/she can
still enjoy life and feel completely normal.
And truth be told this is a normal part of elderly living for most. What to Look for When Shopping for The traditional absorbency of an adult diaper will provide
superior comfort for the Senior Citizen using them and will ensure that they do
not need to be changed frequently. These qualities inspire confidence in the user and also make care
giving a bit easier. 🙂 Adult diapers that meet this specification retain waste well in the range of 24-34 oz. Aside this, they are built with heavy elastic around their tabs, leg opening and waist opening (for the pull up designs). This should be the number one feature you should look for in an
absorbency brief or pants when you think or shop for best adult diapers for
Seniors or the elderly. “ Retain waste
well in the range of 24-34 oz” 2. Odor Retention: The odor retention of any incontinence pants for adults is obviously very important, especially if it is aimed at fecal retention. To get this right, you’ll need to check with the particular brand
you are about purchasing and look out particularly for express
notes/instructions that implicates the fact that odor is retained. Aside this however, another smart way of gauging odor retention is
to check the thickness of the padding and importantly, estimate how tightly the
adult diaper grips at the thighs. The tighter the elastic provision at the thighs, the
better/effective the pants will prove to be when it comes to controlling odor. 3. Size The size of the adult diaper you are deciding on should be an important point to consider. Like all of us, elderly persons/Senior Citizens have different body sizes. Adult diapers come in different sizes and are not that consistent from brand to bran. Usually adult diapers are available in the normal sizes you would
expect, there are XL, L, M & S, but again can be inconsistent from
manufacturer to manufacturer. With the wrong fit the incontinence pants could perform far below
your expectations. I suggest that you
order from a couple of reputable brands so you have one to fall back on. I cannot tell you how important getting it right the first time is
to maintain the best positive outlook possible. 4. Style Generally, absorbent adult diapers for Seniors/the elderly come in two distinct styles/designs: the pull up style and the tabs design model. The pull up design comes in the form of regular pants or briefs – and is worn in the same manner a regular underwear is worn. In fact, the philosophy behind this design is that, incontinence pants should look, feel and be worn in the same manner as traditional pants, briefs or boxers. The tabs design is a little bit different. An adult incontinence
pant that is ‘powered’ by tabs has either Velcro or buttons by the side and is
operated in that fashion – much like the traditional diaper kids rely on. Now, there isn’t much difference between the two design models,
most seniors seem to start with the pull up type. However, if an elderly person is sensitive – or
does prefer one over the other, it is certainly worth taking the pain to ensure
that the style that fits better and is preferred is actually purchased and used
to see which is going to work best. From our research and experience, a bedridden Senior or elderly
person will be far better of with the tabs model – especially since it provides
better ease of both use and disposal. A
normal functioning senior will probably prefer they pull up style. What are the best Adult Diaper Brands? There are dozens of adult diaper brands in the market, so for
obvious reasons we see no value in attempting to list them all. If we would recommend them to our own
parents, they didn’t make our list. For the money, we believe these are the best and we have ranked them in order. These are our Top 5 adult diaper brands. Tranquility ATN (All-through-the-Night) Fitted Briefs Attends Incontinence Care Briefs for Adults We feel these five
adult diapers are the best available and any senior man or women should be safe
and secure with any of them. Adult Diapers Designed for Men Normally, there are no special adult diapers for men. Adult
incontinence diapers serve both men and women and are accordingly, unisex. However, there are some brands that are made specially for men in
mind. The Tena Incontinence Guard for Men is the most popular
one in the market. Adult Diapers for Women Like a dedicated adult diaper for men, women have no special
diaper type reserved for them. However, of late, there has been some special
diapers that are manufactured specially with women in mind. One of such incontinence undies is the Prevail Dri-Fit Collections Underwear for Women. They are gaining in popularity and currently one
of the top selling brands for women. Take note however that women can also use any of the adult diapers reviewed here since all of them have been designed to serve both sexes comfortably. Diapered Men/Women: Is There any Shame in Using
Incontinence Pants as an Elderly Person? There are many reasons why you may need to use a diaper as an
elderly person or desire to have it used by your loved one who is a Senior
Citizen. However, whatever the reason that makes its use necessary for
either you or your loved one, two (3) things are important to note: The summary? An incontinence pants is like a drug to an elderly
user (or any other user for that matter). It is necessary to preserve dignity
and avoid embarrassment and should NOT in any instance, arouse
shame in users or caregivers. We wish you the best as you find the right adult diaper for you or
someone your are providing care for. Shopping for the best adult diapers or incontinence pants for
Seniors is not what anyone would look forward to, believe me. Not you – and
certainly not us. However, the scenario above projects an ideal world – a world
where things are perfect and senior mishaps & accidents are non-existent. In the real world however (the one we all share), Alzheimer,
Parkinson’s, Senile Dementia, other health conditions and general old age make
Seniors/our elderly loved ones incontinent. When this happens, it is only
logical and proper that we seek to help them as best as we can. If you’re thus looking for the best incontinence pants for your
aged loved ones (or yourself), you’ve come to the right place. These are the our picks for the Top five adult diapers available.
The great new is they can be ordered online from your computer with one click
and be sent to you discreetly. You will
have them in a couple of days because they will be mailed from the Amazon
warehouse closest to your location. 5 Best Adult Diapers/Incontinence Pants for Seniors
& the Elderly They are in order based upon our editorial rating. 1. The Tranquility Premium Overnight Pull-On
Adult Diapers are a distinct, practical & unique suitable for Seniors
and the elderly. The feature a taller, full-rise waist panel with the trim look
of an ordinary underwear, this diaper does not look or feel like many
incontinence products at all. This means elderly user have less challenges with both dignity –
and ease of use – the two greatest issues that challenge the elderly when they
are faced with the choice of a diaper or when they go shopping for the best
adult diapers there are in the market. Providing daytime and nigh time absorbencies (depending on your
choice and need), the Tranquility brand of absorbent underwear promises – and
actually delivers an unsurpassed skin dryness, odor retention and most
importantly, leakage protection for both moderate and heavy incontinence needs. Best Features of the Tranquility Premium Overnight
Pull-on Adult Diapers 2. Abena Abri-Flex Pull-ons The Abena Abri-Flex pull-ons are one of the leading adult diapers particularly known all throughought Europe and the US for both their high quality and supreme absorbency. Designed with leak up guards, four-strand elastic around the legs,
a wetness indicator and an additional extra-tall waistband for added
protection, this diaper is designed to give users awesome protection that not
all competitors can boast of. When the rustle-less feature and the latex free realities are
factored, the Abena Abri-Flex pull ons are adult diapers worth seriously
considering for the aged/elderly in their time of (incontinence) need. Best Features of the Abena Abri-Flex Pull-ons 3. Tranquility ATN (All-through-the-Night) Fitted Briefs Unarguably the heaviest absorbency diaper (from Tranquility), the Tranquility ATN Fitted Briefs designed with two re-fast-enable tape tabs on each side and is meant to last users the whole night, hence the ‘ATN’ in the name: ‘All Through the Night’. The Tranquility name = Quality in the adult diaper space. Fitted with Kufguard leak-guards and a wetness indicator, they are
the perfect fit for the Senior who wishes to sleep in peace all through the
night and is also concerned about privacy…they are packed in a generic color
for added discretion especially during wear. They fit waists ranges from 32 to 44 inches. Best Features of the Tranquility ATN 4. MoliCare Mobile Underwear If you’re shopping for the perfect adult diaper particularly suitable for the active person with heavier needs (who also prefers a pull-on style underwear), the MoliCare Mobile Underwear is what you should consider. Manufactured with a soft breathable waterproof fabric to reduce
skin irritation and hold waste better, the MoliCare underwear absorbs moisture
rapidly and feels as comfortable on the skin as a simple cotton underwear
designed for active seniors. The features above also means that it remains as slim as possible,
reducing the chances of anyone ever noticing that the user has anything on
rather than a conventional underwear. Best Features of the MoliCare Underwear 5. Attends Incontinence Care Briefs for Adults The Attends Incontinence Care Briefs for Adults provide maximum protection with fast fluid acquisition and the lowest possible re-wet. Equipped with waistband and 6 tape tabs for comfortable fit, they
are gradually becoming very popular especially in the United States. Best Features of the Attends Incontinence Care
Briefs for Adults Any of these 5 products we believe you will be happy with. As they
say you get what you pay for. If you are
dealing with a parent that is making the transition from regular briefs to
incontinence pants, don’t buy low quality products and knock offs. How to Convince your Parent of Loved one
to Wear Adult Diapers Incontinence is an embarrassing condition that is often difficult for a person to accept and deal with. Many seniors try to ignore this new development and carry on with their lives, but a head-in-the-sand approach usually attracts more attention to the problem. Fortunately, there
are ways to encourage a loved one to address this issue, but they require
patience, understanding and a commitment to upholding your loved one’s dignity
even if it means in spite of themselves. HUGE Tip: Strike the Word
Diaper from your Vocabulary “My parent won’t wear
adult diapers and it drives me nuts!” This is a common
complaint for caregivers whose loved ones are suffering from incontinence, and
I absolutely sympathize. However, one glaring piece of this sentence stands out
to me: the use of the word “diaper.” The first thing I urge caregivers to do
when tackling this sensitive topic is think carefully about their word choices.
To take it one step
further, think about this. If you are a middle-aged woman who has had children,
you have probably suffered from stress incontinence occasionally, meaning that
you’ve leaked a little urine while coughing, sneezing or laughing. Perhaps
you’ve even used a panty protector at times. How would you feel if your husband,
friend, or someone else your respected, referred to this little protection as a
diaper? Diapers are
associated with babies. No adult, regardless of their level of physical or
mental disability, should be treated as though they are a baby. Aging and
age-related conditions already rob our loved ones of much of their independence
and dignity. This may seem like
nitpicking, but please refer to incontinence products with age-appropriate
terms. Think along the lines of briefs, pads, underpants, the actual brand name
like Depends—anything you want. Just make the word respectful and you’ll
have mastered the first step toward getting a senior to wear incontinence
protection. I ask you to do this
not only for the elder, but yourself. Using respectful words will help remind
you that you are caring for an adult who deserves to be treated as such. Determine What is Causing Incontinence I’m aware that just changing the words you use isn’t going to completely solve the emotional challenges. When incontinence becomes even an occasional issue, it’s important for your loved one to see their doctor about it. It may be caused by something straightforward, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or an over active bladder (OAB), or a more serious underlying issue like prostate problems in men or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women. Most likely, you’ve taken your elder to the doctor to address the issue. After testing to determine the type of incontinence your loved one is experiencing, their doctor may be able to recommend pelvic floor exercises, minor surgical procedures and even medications that can help manage incontinence and prevent accidents. Sometimes a second
opinion from a urologist is a good idea as well. If you deal with what’s
causing symptoms of incontinence, then adult briefs and other protection may
wind up being unnecessary. Deal with Denial Head
On If your loved one’s
cognition is still good but they simply prefer to live in denial about this new
development in their health, try appealing to their sense of vanity. After all,
vanity is what keeps us in denial about many age-related issues. Our culture is guilty
of ageism to the extent that many people go to extremes to appear as though
they are winning this losing battle against nature. Certainly,
incontinence is very difficult to accept. However, if you, or a third party,
can convince your elder that it’s much more embarrassing to smell like urine
because you ignore leakage than it is to wear proper protection, you may get
somewhere. Promise to work with
them to find a comfortable, absorbent and low-profile solution that will enable
them to maintain their dignity, extend their independence and improve their
appearance. Incontinence
frequently causes seniors to venture out less to avoid embarrassing situations,
but it doesn’t have to be that way. Ask Their Doctor or a
Friend for Help Just like many other
issues with our aging parents, incontinence may be better approached by a
non-family member, such as a trusted friend or a doctor. Why? Because seniors
tend to discredit or shrug off observations and suggestions from their own
family, especially when it’s coming from an adult child. You know your loved
one better than I, but if this is an option you should consider, don’t neglect
it. Our aging parents
changed our diapers when we were babies. It’s difficult for them to grapple
with the fact that Mother Nature has pulled this cruel switch on them.
Receiving advice and directions on “how to cope” from someone you raised and
who has no first-hand experience with the issue is often just too much to
handle, so they start getting dismissive or defensive. It may be less
embarrassing to have the discussion with an objective doctor who’s seen it all
or a friend who is dealing with the same challenges. When their defenses are
down, they’re usually more willing to listen. Reasons Why Seniors
Refuse to Wear Incontinence Protection There are plenty of
other reasons beside denial and embarrassment that can make it difficult (if
not impossible) to get an elder to wear adult briefs. Some of these factors are
out of their control and it can take a great deal of patience on behalf of
caregivers to work through them, to get them into a new routine. Diminished Senses of Sight and Smell Our senses weaken
naturally as we age and can result in seniors’ lack of awareness of how smelly
and soiled their clothing and furniture is. Even if they acknowledge that
they’ve had an accident, they may downplay it and continue wearing the same
clothing (wet or dry) when it desperately needs to be laundered. Because they
don’t realize the full impact that incontinence has on their personal
presentation, they may truly feel that incontinence protection is unnecessary,
especially if they don’t leave the house or have visitors over regularly. It’s a difficult topic too cover but informing a loved one that their personal odor or the smell in their home has become offensive is sometimes the ticket to compliance with incontinence products. Some elders are truly embarrassed when they realize that others have caught onto the issue they thought they had been successfully covering up. Just be sure to break the news gently and respectfully. Depression Can Be a Contributing Factor If your loved one feels no embarrassment or concern over their smell or appearance, then you may have a more serious underlying issue on your hands. Unfortunately, loss of interest in personal care, socialization and other activities can be symptoms of depression. Spotting depression
in seniors is tricky, but social isolation, chronic health conditions and pain
put this demographic at a significantly higher risk. At the very least,
depression screening should be part of your loved one’s annual visit to their
primary care physician. Dementia Might Be the Culprit If denial,
obliviousness and depression aren’t factors in your loved one’s refusal to
partake in continence care, a dementia screening might be the next step. It
doesn’t matter who reasons with them if cognitive decline is a factor. Depending on their
mental awareness, they may no longer be capable of making sound decisions, like
wearing incontinence products, changing their clothing or following their
medication regimen. If you notice any other memory issues or signs of dementia, it’s important to make a doctor’s appointment for a full evaluation. Early diagnosis is crucial for adequate planning and care. When All Else Fails,
Let Them Work It Out I’m aware that there
are times when none of the above tips will work. Our elders are in charge of
their lives and daily choices. While our gentle suggestions come from a good
place, there is little we can do about issues like this while they are still
competent to make their own decisions. Do what you can to
get medical help, treat the person with respect and dignity, and then let go. Time
may take care of the very things you pushed so hard to correct. Sometimes, when we
leave people alone to work out their problems, they stop resisting and tackle
them head on. However, if the situation is extremely bad, call your local adult
protection services (APS) agency. A welfare check may be needed to make some
positive changes in your loved one’s life. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. Just remember RULE
ONE Strike the Word Diaper from your Vocabulary
Whether an absorbent underwear is targeted at either liquid waste, solid bodily waste (or both), there is one super important feature to consider first and foremost – its absorbency.
As we mentioned earlier these are the 5 most reliable incontinence pants available.
Accordingly, they ensure the longest possible time between a change than any diaper of its kind. This important feature makes them the completing diapers we have selected to complete this list of the best adult diapers for Seniors.
You need a reliable, dependable product to help make this transition.
Seniors often rebel against the word “diaper” as an adult of any age would—and
for good reason. This word implies a piece of clothing used for a baby or
toddler who has yet to be toilet trained. What adult would take kindly to this
word when it’s applied to them? I mean really, think about it.
Our word choices and tone of voice may not seem that important but
communicating and providing care in a way that helps our loved ones feel
dignified is a game-changer when it comes to promoting cooperation and boosting
their self-esteem and cooperation. As
the children of aging parents, the sooner we understand this the better.
If you notice the symptoms in between visits, it’s important to make an
appointment as soon as possible. Treating depression may help your loved one
feel better and spur them to engage in personal care again, which, in turn, can
boost their self-esteem and encourage them to venture out and socialize more.
